Ask a Realtor

Need a goat wrangler, a locksmith, property check on a house that should probably be condemned (which is what I’m doing in this photo ) and a mariachi band by 3pm? Call a Realtor.

We’re not just showing houses—we’re solving problems you didn’t even know existed. Roof leak? I’ve got a guy. Permitting issue from 1987? I know someone who knows someone’s cousin who married a zoning official.

Realtors are the MacGyvers of the modern world—with a cell phone instead of a Swiss Army knife and caffeine instead of a mullet.

Creative? Always. Solution-oriented? That’s my superpower. We don’t just find a way—we invent one if we have to. The Ninjas of No-problemo.

You want the impossible done yesterday?

Ask a Realtor.

You want it done with resourcefulness, grit, and a half dead phone at 2% battery?

Still ask a Realtor.

We make mistakes

It was my worst day in real estate.

I had made a huge mistake.

This was back in the days of Blackberry phones.I had forwarded (or thought I had forwarded) an exclusion list to some buyers via email.

Well long story short, they never got it and the first time they had a look at the list of things that were not (and supposed to be) included with their new home was at the closing table.

How do you spell disaster?

What transpired next was me renting a small UHaul in a blizzard and driving 6+ hours to retrieve the massive amount missing items.

As I was commiserating with the man at UHaul about my epic mistake he said the following...

“A person will be judged not on the mistakes they make, but on the actions they do to correct the mistake”.

Little did this stranger know but he gave me a spark of hope and reprieve. A verbal life raft in a sea of self loathing.

We are all human, we make mistakes, it comes with the territory. But how you handle and respond to your mistakes reveals ones character.

That day I didn’t blame anyone else for what happened and I know I did everything humanly possible to make up for my mistake.

And now, I copy myself on every email to make double sure.

Buy real estate and wait

Don’t wait to buy real estate. Buy real estate and wait.

We all know the media loves a sensational story and there have been plenty surrounding the real estate market. Lately there has been lots of talk about “The Bubble”

But when we compare what the talking heads SAY is going to happen to what ACTUALLY has happened the outcome is very different.

The following example starts with a buyer looking at a home valued at $300,000

1. Oct 2015 “Housing today- a bubble larger than 2006” - we saw 5.1% appreciation - home is now worth $315,000

2. Aug 2016 “We’re in a housing bubble” - we saw 5.4% appreciation - home is now worth $332,000

3. Nov 2017 “Homeownership doesn’t build wealth, a study finds” - we saw 6.1% appreciation- home is now worth $353,000

4. Sept 2018 “It’s better to rent than buy in today’s housing market” - we saw 4.1% appreciation - home is now worth $367,000

5. July 2019 “The housing market is about to shift in a bad way for buyers” - we saw 4.0% appreciation- home is now worth $382,000

6. Dec 2019 “Next year will be hard on the housing market, especially in big cities” - we saw 16% appreciation in 2020- home is now worth $443,000

7. July 2021 “Housing boom is over as new home sales fall to pandemic lows” - we saw 18% appreciation - home is now worth $523,000

Had fear consumed this buyer back in 2015 they would’ve lost out on $223,000 of increased value, not to mention the seven years of payments made on the mortgage creating even more equity.

Remember, the interest rate on rent is 100%….

Make your financial decisions based on logic, reason and expert opinions. Don’t make decisions based on fear as you may miss out on big opportunities.

Nine years in a row real estate continues to be rated as one of the BEST long term wealth strategies.

Questions? Leave them in the chat or DM me. You don’t have to do this alone.

Keep Going

I love flying on cloudy and rainy days, because just minutes after take off the bad weather is left behind.

I love the moment when you break through the clouds and see the sun. The light which you never thought you would see again is on full display.

It’s always been there, but its easy to forget.

Sometimes our situations seem unmovable. Like there is no end in sight or reconciliation is impossible.

But the sun is ALWAYS shining, no matter what the clouds are doing. Its hard to envision a sun drenched world when all you see is heavy, dark clouds but its there all the same.

This keeps me going on the hard days - knowing the sun is still there and waiting to shine on my upturned face.

With gratitude.

Why isn't your house sold yet?

Here are the three reasons your home is not sold yet.

1. Price: buyers know the market. They have access to tons of data online and while the market is still crazy buyers are not in the mood to grossly overpay for your home.

2. Condition: too small, too dated, too smelly, major repairs, dysfunctional floor plan, you get the picture.

3. Location: too close to the road, in town, out of town, on a mountain, in a valley, again, you get the picture.

Two of these things you can change, one you cannot. So if your home is not selling you will need to have a closer look at 1 and 2 and see what adjustments need to be made.

Here is some expert advice

EXPERT ADVICE FOR FREE!?! YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!

Did you know that in most cases buyers don’t pay their real estate agents?? Buyers agents are paid by the listing company who is paid by the seller.

What does this mean for buyers?

It means you get my expertise, skill and knowledge at no cost to you.

In this short video I’ll share all the advantages of working with a real estate agent.

Is your home ready for showing?

When someone sees your home it’s really a second showing for them. Say what? Yep, they have already “seen” your home online.

They have walked thru all the rooms, admired your decorating style and marveled at your gardening skills..

1. But what if your photos aren’t “show ready”? What if your kids didn’t pick up their dirty laundry?

2. What if your rooms really need painted?

3. And what if your agent used their iPhone to take the photos (gasp!)?

Welcome to 2026 - if your agent is not hiring a professional photographer to take your photos then you need to start asking some questions.

But you need to do your part too - and I can help you with that.

As a service to all my sellers I offer home staging and styling for free! My stager extraordinaire will bring accessories and work with what you have. She will guide you on decluttering and cleaning.

And as a team we will ready your home for market with your best foot forward. And don’t forget to tell the kids to pick up their dirty clothes!

What are buyers looking for?

Low to no inventory.

Yep, that is the current state of affairs in the real estate market. We have way more buyers than we do houses.

So what are buyers looking for?

Well anything at this point because they can’t be picky, but here are the most common things I hear:

• At least 3 bedroom

• Under $500K

• Something that doesn’t need a ton of work

• Master bedroom

• Second living room

If you are curious about selling and what your home might be worth please reach out. I will listen to your needs and goals and give you sound advice.

Nailing it in real estate

I overheard someone recently talking about her new home purchase out of state. She was singing her agent’s praises — and even mentioned that he promised to “hammer the seller” during inspection to get them more money off.

I have to admit, I was a little stunned. A lot of thoughts ran through my head — one of them being, “Aren’t you glad your buyer didn’t do that to you when you sold your house?”

Buying or selling a home is emotional. There’s real life happening on both sides of that contract — families packing up memories, people stepping into new seasons, sometimes with a mix of excitement and heartache. That’s why the Colorado contract includes a Good Faith clause. Because “hammering” someone isn’t how you build trust or get to the closing table with integrity.

When you work with me, you can expect honesty, respect, and compassion — for you and for the person on the other side of the deal.

No bait and switch. No smoke and mirrors. No hammering.

Because in real estate done right, compassion and integrity always win the deal.

Nailed it.

Your team of superheroes

Team work makes the dream work.

In order to have a great experience when buying a home you need to have a team of superheroes on your side.

1. Real estate agent. Someone you trust, who has your back and understands the market and area.

2. A rock star lender who understands mountain properties, is easy to communicate with and delivers on time.

3. An experienced home inspector who is knowledgeable and takes the time to explain the findings in your inspection report.

4. A title company who is responsive, accommodating and precise.

You don’t have to do this alone.

The Culture Club

It was the summer of 1983.

Just me, my two tone brown Fisher Price cassette player and Boy George.

The Culture Club was my first music crush.

How 'bout you?

Sellers Property Disclosure

Selling your home doesn’t have to be a gamble. And the sellers property disclosure can keep you out of hot water.

Did you know the number 1 complaint with the division of real estate is non-disclosure by sellers?

What does this mean in plain English. “We bought a house from Mr and Mrs Seller and they never told us about the roof leak, the cracked foundation, the flood in the basement, fill in the blank.”

So how do sellers avoid this unpleasant situation?

There is this handy form we use in real estate called the Sellers Property Disclosure. This form is your opportunity to air all your homes dirty laundry.

Sometimes I have sellers balk at this form, they feel reluctant to fill it out.

But think of this form as your get out of jail free card.

The save your bacon form.

The keep you out of hot water form.

You can’t hide things from the new buyer!

Just picture this. New buyer moves in and who should saunter over, but Karen from across the street.

“Oh welcome to the neighborhood! I was just saying to my husband that I didn’t think anyone would buy this home with the moldy attic and all.”

Your neighbors know everythingAnd if something is wrong with your house the buyers are going to find out eventually.

It’s best to be as thorough and accurate as possible with the disclosure. It will protect you in the long run and keep you out of trouble.

Yes, you might have to make some repairs, but I can promise you it will be a lot cheaper than a lawsuit and attorney fees.

When in doubt, DISCLOSE!

A must have!

Do you have one of these bad boys installed in your home?

If you don’t, I BEG you to go to the hardware store TODAY and pick one (or two, or three) up.

As a guideline, Colorado law requires carbon monoxide detectors be installed within 15 feet of all bedrooms upon the transfer of property. But even if you are not selling your home it’s imperative that you are protected.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It steals oxygen from your red blood cells and can steal the life right out of you. You essentially drown without getting wet.

The weather is getting colder and folks are turning on their gas powered heating, so please don’t take a chance.

This is serious stuff. If you read just one of my posts all year, this is the one I want you to really take to heart.

With gratitude.

About Inspections

I’m going to tell you a little secret: Negotiating inspection items can be a bit tricky.

Shows like Million Dollar Listing have not helped either. I cannot tell you how many times the agent on TV says, “We will just get the seller at inspection”. Yeah, it doesn’t work that way.

The purpose of the inspection is to reveal items that cannot be seen with the naked eye or issues that only a thorough home inspection would find.

In other words, the giant carpet stain you saw during the showing is not something that should end up on your list of inspection requests.

For the best results stick to health and safety issues.

And remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask for the things that are important to you. The seller cannot “ditch” you because you sent over a list of inspection requests. All they can do is say no.

If you have kept your list to major items that “any reasonable buyer” would find objectionable the seller is probably going to agree with you.

One of my biggest roles in a real estate transaction is helping you through this process whether you are the buyer or the seller.

When in doubt, DISCLOSE!

The sellers property disclosure, your friendly form.

Did you know the number complaint with the division of real estate is non-disclosure by sellers?

What does this mean in plain English. “We bought a house from Mr and Mrs Seller and they never told us about the roof leak, the cracked foundation, the flood in the basement, fill in the blank.”

So how do sellers avoid this unpleasant situation?

There is this handy form we use in real estate called the Sellers Property Disclosure. This form is your opportunity to air all your homes dirty laundry.

Sometimes I have sellers balk at this form, they feel reluctant to fill it out.

But think of this form as your get out of jail free card.

The save your bacon form.

The keep you out of hot water form.

You can’t hide things from the new buyer!

Just picture this. New buyer moves in and who should saunter over, but Karen from across the street.

“Oh welcome to the neighborhood! I was just saying to my husband that I didn’t think anyone would buy this home with the moldy attic and all.”

Your neighbors know everything! And if something is wrong with your house the buyers are going to find out eventually.

It’s best to be as thorough and accurate as possible with the disclosure. It will protect you in the long run and keep you out of trouble.

Yes, you might have to make some repairs, but I can promise you it will be a lot cheaper than a lawsuit and attorney fees.

When in doubt, DISCLOSE!

Pricing Your Home

The market is feeling a bit bananas lately. And sellers are not sure where to price their home. Here’s a little insight.

You have choices when pricing your home:

1. Test the market. This strategy works in a rapidly rising market because you are pricing ahead of the market with the hopes that the market will meet or surpass your list price

2. Price it right. This falls right into the range of what market comparables tell us the home is worth. Not too high, not too low.

Is this sounding a little like Goldilocks and the Three Bears?

3. Strategically aggressive price. This is the price range that attracts multiple offers and offers over asking price.

There is no right or wrong answer but as the market continues to evolve strategy is going to be more and more effective. Please leave any questions below.

What's your home's value?

Let’s do something fun.

I want you to look up your Zestimate.

This is Zillow’s estimate of the value of your home. Just go to the website and type in your address.

Let me know what you think of the value. Too high, too low or just right?

BEST Long Term Wealth Strategy

We all know the media loves a sensational story and there have been plenty surrounding the real estate market. Lately there has been lots of talk about interest rates and why now is not a good time to buy…

But when we compare what the talking heads SAY is going to happen compared to what has ACTUALLY happened the outcome is very different.

The following example starts with a buyer looking at a home valued at $300,000.

1. Oct 2015 “Housing today- a bubble larger than 2006” - we saw 5.1% appreciation - home is now worth $315,000

2. Aug 2016 “We’re in a housing bubble” - we saw 5.4% appreciation - home is now worth $332,000

3. Nov 2017 “Homeownership doesn’t build wealth, a study finds” - we saw 6.1% appreciation- home is now worth $353,000

4. Sept 2018 “It’s better to rent than buy in today’s housing market” - we saw 4.1% appreciation - home is now worth $367,000

5. July 2019 “The housing market is about to shift in a bad way for buyers” - we saw 4.0% appreciation- home is now worth $382,000

6. Dec 2019 “Next year will be hard on the housing market, especially in big cities” - we saw 16% appreciation in 2020- home is now worth $443,000

7. July 2021 “Housing boom is over as new home sales fall to pandemic lows” - we saw 18% appreciation - home is now worth $523,000

Had fear consumed this buyer back in 2015 they would’ve lost out on $223,000 of increased value, not to mention the seven years of payments made on the mortgage creating even more equity.

Remember, the interest rate on rent is 100%….

Make your financial decisions based on logic, reason and expert opinions. Don’t make decisions based on fear as you may miss out on big opportunities.

Real estate continues to be rated as one of the BEST long term wealth strategies.

Questions? Leave them in the chat or DM me. You don’t have to do this alone.

Add simplicity to your life

Here are three things you can do in 15 minutes each to add simplicity and joy to your life.

1. Clean out your purse or wallet. Get rid of old receipts, gum wrappers and anything you don’t use.

2. Go through your closet and find all the things you never wear and donate them.

3. Contact www.catalogchoice.org to remove your name from mailing lists that you no longer wish to receive.

And one more for good measure.

4. Make a list of 10 of your go-to dinner meals and tape it to your fridge.

Do you believe your eyes?

Long post alert, but worth it.

Do you believe your eyes?

I read this book once about a world where Earth was too hostile to live outdoors so humans lived in underground silos. Imagine a skyscraper that goes underground and only one story is above ground.

The level you lived on had to do with your educational achievements and what job you did to keep the silo running. More prestigious jobs were closer to the surface.

Most of the people went along with this, what other choice did they have?

But one small group started to have questions.

The top level was a type of cafeteria that was all windows. You could see the wind swept and toxic landscape from the safety of the silo.

Every so often someone would have to go outside for a safety mission. They would have to suit up in protective gear with their own air source.

Some of them completed their missions, and others ended in tragedy.

Their bodies still laying waste in the wasteland.

Okay, here’s the spoiler alert. Do not read anymore if you want to read this book

Eventually the main character decides she’s ditching this popcorn stand and steals a protective suit and goes outside.

She can see the bodies laying around her and the hostile landscape but in a moment of shear courage she removes her helmet.

And low and behold, Earth is just as it should be. She finds herself standing in a field of green grass, the wind is lightly blowing and the sun is shining on her face.

In the distance she can see other silos.

It was all a trick.

What she was seeing out of the cafeteria was fake.

What she was seeing out of the helmet was fake, a video overlay.

She runs over the top of a hill and finds a small group of other humans living as humans should.

So back to the original question.

Do you believe your eyes?

Do you believe your ears?

Do you believe what you are told?

Do you believe what you read, watch or listen to?

Just because “someone” says it is so, doesn’t mean it is. Sadly the truth has become much more elusive than that.